2013 Ford Fusion: More Spy Photos

Now that the Fiesta and Focus have kicked off a bottom-up styling revolution within the Ford car family, the Fusion is next in line. Our previous look at the next-generation mid-sizer was of a development mule based on the outgoing European Ford Mondeo, the car from which the next Fusion will evolve. Now spy shooters have spotted a prototype of the 2013 Ford Fusion shrouded stem to stern in black camo.

Could It Be a Lincoln?

Conspicuously absent from this prototype is a grille, leaving the door open for speculation that it is a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. We firmly believe it’s the Ford platform mate, however, considering that the hood’s leading edge appears far more compatible with a hexagonal grille insert, à la 2013 Taurus, than a Lincoln-style waterfall. Moreover, the worldwide-market Fusion/Mondeo are vastly more important than the U.S.-only MKZ, making them the higher development priority.

The extremely long back window of the car seen here has some of us thinking that it could be a hatchback—a poor man’s Audi A7, perhaps. Across the pond, the Mondeo is sold as a hatchback and a wagon, so it would not surprise us to see a five-door variant of its successor. It would surprise us, though, to see such a car offered in America. If this prototype is indeed a sedan, that short decklid will make for a small trunk and tough-to-access cargo. Don’t be fooled by that low-cut zipper on the rear bumper; today’s crash standards mean that the opening for either a trunk or hatch is unlikely to plunge so low.

Could It Be a Hybrid?

Other notable details include exterior mirrors mounted on the door skins, allowing for more glass area for better visibility. The single exhaust tip on the right indicates that this car is most likely powered by a four-cylinder, as all next-gen Fusions eventually will be. We expect Ford will offer at least two four-cylinder engines, a naturally aspirated mill making 170 or so horsepower, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter with between 240 and 250, the latter effectively replacing today’s V-6. This car also could be the successor to Ford’s 10Best-winning Fusion hybrid, which is expected to offer more battery capacity.

Many questions remain, but they should all be answered soon. The 2013 Fusion will make its public debut within a year—and by then we’ll no doubt get a few peeks at its MKZ sibling, too.

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